Australian Defense Manufacturer Picks Arlington for U.S. Headquarters
Published on September 30, 2026
By Office of Communication
Advanced Composite Structures (ACS), an Australia-based advanced composite materials manufacturing company, is establishing its U.S. headquarters in Arlington. ACS, which manufactures components for autonomous underwater vehicles used by the U.S. and Australian navies, contracts with commercial manufacturers for a variety of composite materials needs.
“ACS is a great fit for Arlington because it brings together several areas where we are focused on growing our economy — advanced manufacturing, defense and highly skilled employment,” said Lyndsay Mitchell, director of strategic initiatives at the City of Arlington.
“We’re especially excited that an international company chose Arlington for its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing operations, bringing new investment and quality jobs to our Airport area while strengthening our position in the growing defense and unmanned systems sector.”
The project includes the U.S. headquarters and a roughly 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility recently built by Lincoln Properties near the Arlington Municipal Airport. The area is a growing hub for military research and development, including companies like E-Space and Bell.
Under a Chapter 380 grant agreement with the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (EDC), ACS has agreed to invest $4.25 million in the project, including about $2.7 million in specialized manufacturing equipment, as well as facility improvements like power, plumbing, drainage and more.
ACS will create at least 40 jobs by the end of 2032, with longer-term projections estimating 50-60 skilled engineering and technical jobs a salary range of $65,000 to $100,000. A third-party economic impact analysis estimated a 10-year impact of $45.5 million in salaries and wages.
ACS has also agreed to prioritize the purchase of goods and services from Arlington businesses and participate in outreach and recruitment activities with UT Arlington and Tarrant County College.
Under the agreement, the Arlington EDC will provide a reimbursement grant for qualified facilities improvements of up to $1.2 million, with up to $600,000 available in each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The agreement includes numerous provisions including reporting, audit, inspection, breach and recapture to ensure the company complies with investment and employment obligations.